Awning-frame



(No Model.)

J. PETTIT.

AWNING FRAME.

No. 480,437. Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

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JAMES PETTIT, OF ALBANY, NEV YORK.

AWNING-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,437, dated August 9, 1892.

Application filed February 7, 1890. Serial No. 339,592. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs PETTIT, of the city and county of Albany, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Awning-Frames, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of awning-frames that are hinged to Window-casings or otherportions of a building, so that an awning attached to said frame can be raised and lowered as occasion may require; and the object of my invention is to simplify the construction and to provide suitable means for locking the frame while in its extended position, so as to prevent the awning from being accidentally raised. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which are herein referred to and form part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of my awning-frame in its horizontal position. Fig. 2

is a like section of my awning-frame in its raised or vertical position. Fig. 8 is alike section of my awning-frame with a windowawning attached, the latter being in its extended position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the hinge-joint and automatic locking device in alocked condition, as when the awning is extended. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of said joint and locking device with the frame shown in a raised position. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the hinge-joint and a modified form of the locking device,

and Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the bracket for said hinge-joint with the modified form of locking device.

As represented in the drawings, A designates the framework of my awning-frame, which, as commonly made, is composed of metallic tubes in the form of three sides of a quadrangle, consisting of end portions 1 and a front bar 2, which may be formed of a'continuous piece of tubing bent to form the corners of the frame; or, when preferred, it may be formed of separate pieces which are connected at the corners by elbows 3, as-

shown in the drawings. Attached to the end of each end portion 1 there is a bent arm 4:, which forms part of the locking device by which the awning-frame is secured in its horizontal position, and said bent arm is provided with an offset arm 5, which projects rearwardly in a direction that is substantially in the same direction as the end portion 1. Said offset arm is provided with a hole 15 nearits extremity, into which the fastening of the awning is fixed, so as to bring the rearmost edge of the awning into close proximity with the window-casing or other part of a building to which the awning is attached.

B designates the side bars, which are fitted to slide telescopically into the tubular end portions of the frame A for the purpose of permittin g the latter to receive a vertical sliding movement independently of the swinging movement whenever the awning is raised or lowered. Each of said side bars is provided with an eye 6, which is fitted to project from the end of the tubular end portion of the frame A, said eye forming a part of the hingejoint on which said frame swings.

Odesignates a bracket, which forms part of the hinge-joints for the frame A, the eye 6 forming the complement of said hinge-joints, said bracket also forming a catch-piece for the locking device when the frame A is extended in a horizontal position. The catchpiece D of said bracket, when made in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, is provided with an inclined catch 7, on which a notch 8 of a weighted latch 9 is fitted to engage automatically for the purpose of locking the frame A when the latter has attained its horizontal position. Said weighted latch is pivoted to the bent arm l in such manner that it will be left free to swing upwardly in a direction that will permit the notch 8 to engage with the catch 7, but so that it will be unyielding to a movement in an opposite direction. In the modified form of the locking device shown in Fig. 6 the bent arm 4 is extended to pass between two sides of the catch-piece D and is secured therein by means of a removable pin 10, which engages in corresponding holes formed in said arms and catch-piece.

E designates an awning, made of any suitable textile fabric and of any required size and style. Said awning has its lower part socured to the frame A and its upper part is secured to any available part of the building whereon it is used. Ropes or cords F are arranged in the usual manner for raising and lowering the frame A and its attached awning, as occasion may require.

By the construction herein shown and described the trouble commonly arising from the shrinking of the awning fabric after hemg wet by rain is avoided. Said shrinking usually prevents the locking mechanisms of some of the well-known constructions from engaging with co-operative parts, but my hingeolnts belng always retained in a fixed position my awning-frame will operate as a lever, whereby the shrunken fabric can be stretched into form to permit the locking mechanism of my device to readily perform its functions.

My invention, when made in accordance with Fig. 1, operates in the following manner: The awning being extended, as shown in Fig. 3, and it is required to be raised, pressure is applied to the thumb-pieces 11 of theweighted latches 9, so as to release the notch 8 of said latches from the catch 7 of the brackets C. When this has been accomplished, the frame A and lts attached awning can be raised up into a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of the ropes F. When in the latter position, the awning can be lowered by first releasing the ropes F from the cleats 12, so that the weight of the frame and awning will cause it to swing downwardlyin the usual manner. Then when the frame A has nearly attained its horizontal position the free end of the weighted latches 9 will take against the inclined face of the catch 7 and raise said latches until the notch Sis clear of the shoulder of the catch 7, whereupon said latches Will swing downwardly, and thereby automatically secure the frame A in its extended position, as shown in Fig. 3. When the frame A is provided with the modified form of the locking device shown in Fig. 5, the bent arm 4 enters the catclrpiece D of the bracket 0 and 1s secured therein by inserting the removable cross-pin 10 into corresponding holes in said bent arm and catch-piece, which operation, as well as the removal of said crosspin for the purpose of allowing the awning to be raised, is effected by hand.

I am aware that in the construction of awning-frames a combination of tubes or of tubes and rods has heretofore been arranged to slidetelescopically. ThereforeIdonotbroadly claim such a construction; neitherdo I broadly claim an awning-frame provided with an automatic locking mechanism for retaining said frame in an extended position, as I am aware that such features are old and well known; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of an awning-frame A, provided with tubular end pieces 4, side bars B, fitted to slide telescopically in said end pieces and provided with pivots 6, which allow said awning-frame to swing in a vertical plane, stationary hinge-brackets C, to which said side bars are jointed to form fixed hingejoints, and a locking mechanism, substantially as described, attached to the inner end of said tubular end pieces and fitted to engage with said hinge-brackets, whereby the awning fabric may be automatically strained, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an awning-frame and in combination therewith, a locking mechanism for retaining said awning-frame in its extended position, said locking mechanismconsistingof astationary bracket, which forms part of the hingejoint of said awning-frame and is provided with a catch 7, an arm 4, attached to the awning-frame adjacently to said hinge-joint, and a weighted latch 9, pivoted to said arm and fitted to engage with said catch, as and for the purpose herein specified.

JAMES PETTIT'.

\Vitnesses:

WM. H. Low, S. B. BREWER. 

